When sample clearance goes wrong

It's relatively common knowledge that, back in 1992, Gabrielle won a recording contract on the strength of a white label 12" that featured a nascent version of her single Dreams. But, although Go Discs wanted to release the song commercially, they had a problem: Tracy Chapman wouldn't allow them to use the song's central sample, of the guitar riff from her single Fast Car.

Gabrielle - Dreams (Original version)


The version of Dreams that eventually hit number one in 1993 had a much more generic guitar line and lacked the crunchy hip-hop beats of the original - which goes to show the difference getting the right sample can make to a hit single.

Its a problem that appears to have reared its head again on the new single by hotly-tipped British singer Jessie Ware (Where? Over here!)

If you bought SBTRKT's album last year, your ears will be familiar with her voice... But take a listen to her excellently broody new record Running and see if you can spot the inspiration for its drum loop.

Jessie Ware - Running



Did you recognise it? To be fair, you're not likely to unless your a massive Prince trainspotter. But the drum programmer is desperately trying to emulate the Purple maestro's sparse, moody mastery of the Linn LM-1 drum machine on the Sign O' The Times album track The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker. Imagine how much more atmospheric Jessie's record would be if it sounded like this:



Now, there must be other songs that lost a key sample on the journey from demo tape to digital download - but, apart from Black Box's Ride On Time, I can't think of them right now... Can you help?

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MP3 Frenzy: Utterly random September edition

It's been a long while since I posted a batch of fresh MP3s for your aural pleasure, so here is a selection of the songs I've been playing in the last 24 hours (I left out the Hootie and the Blowfish song, for reasons of taste and decency).

Gabrielle - Why?
I know what you're thinking: Gabrielle? Why? If I told you the song also features Paul Weller, you'd probably be sick into your shoes. But guess what? It's actually really good. So Ner ner ner ner ner to you.

Reverend and the Makers - He Said He Loved Me
I warned you all about this weeks ago. It is still brilliant, and headed north in the charts as we speak.

Groove Armada - Song 4 Mutya (Panic Remix)
This is the extended version of my favourite song of the summer, Groove Armada's Out of Control (Song 4 Mutya). This is a perfect example of how extended mixes used to be in the 1980s, teasing out all the hidden elements of the song into a joyous six-minute dance epic (I particularly love the New Order-esque guitar riff). This mix is also a little bit faster than the original, so your toes may get fatigue from all the tapping.

Bruce Springsteen - The E Street Shuffle
Don't laugh. I was brought up on the Boss and the Boss = ace.

Jennifer Lopez - Do It Well
This is the new single from Jennifer Lopez who, as we all know, is a triple threat. This means she can sing, dance and act, not that she is a terrorist who picks on the handicapped and rapes goats. Probably.

ZZT - Lower State of Consciousness (Justice Remix)
Here we have an instrumental remix of a song I have never heard by a band I know nothing about. It is rather splendid.

The Tough Alliance vs. Taken By Trees - Taken Too Young
An exceptionally pretty / haunting europop cacophony, with "ethnic" percussion, a spooky children's choir and a gossamer melody. It's beautiful, although ultimately destined for a Hed Kandi chillout compilation and nothing else.

All of the songs can be downloaded in one handy batch from zShare or megaupload. You can thank me later.

(Some of these songs were discovered on Pitchfok and disco delicious and Arjan Writes. So thank you to them.)

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